Curriculum is the structure and framework for an educational program. Traditionally, design programs utilize a curriculum that includes core (foundational) courses and more specialized or design/medium-specific courses. Over time, many programs adjust course curriculum in response to industry needs, new technology, or new design paradigms. Sometimes this means creating a new course or even a sister program, but sometimes change occurs slowly and in small increments through established curriculum.
Long-standing or founding department members often feel frustration when negotiating changes in curriculum. Many feel that teaching techniques and subject material have worked well over the years, and question why change might be needed. In terms of integrating sustainability into curricula, some faculty may believe that integrating economic and social responsibility will “water down” design curriculum. There is even greater fear that personal understanding or expertise in sustainability issues is weak. Addressing issues around environmental, social, cultural, and economic sustainability continues to be considered an “optional” consideration.
Sustainability and core design education (history, theory, practice) are not mutually exclusive. In fact, integrating sustainability in design curriculum should be a natural expansion because design thinking and sustainability thinking share the same perspectives:
- Experienced based models
- Systems thinking
- Students as initiators
- Open source perspectives
- Collaborative methods
- Measurable outcomes
- Incentive-based goals
- Interdisciplinary perspectives